control

controlverb

To control is to have the power to decide what someone or something does, or how much it grows.

1. have powerhave power over a person, a group, a place, or an organization, and decide what happens

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]

   • The company is controlled by one family. V + obj (passive)
   • The same party has controlled the city council for years. V + obj
   • You can't control what other people think of you. V + obj

   Collocations

   adverb + verb fully control, directly control, tightly control

   verb + noun control a company, control an area, control the market

   Synonyms run; manage; govern

2. make workmake a machine, a vehicle, or a system work in the way you want

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]

   • You control the game with these two buttons. V + obj
   • This switch controls the lights in the kitchen. V + obj
   • The road was icy, and he could not control the car. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun control a car, control the temperature, control the speed

   phrase remote-controlled

   Synonyms operate

3. limitstop something from growing or spreading, or from becoming worse

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]

   • The city is trying to control the cost of housing. V + obj
   • She takes medicine to control her blood pressure. V + obj
   • It took three days to control the fire. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun control costs, control prices, control the spread of something, control a disease

   Synonyms limit; contain

4. feelingsstop a strong feeling from making you say or do something you should not

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]

   • Try to control your temper. V + obj
   • He was so angry that he could hardly control himself. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun control your temper, control your anger, control yourself

   Synonyms contain